Y.M.C.A. WELCOME

Evening Star, Issue 16998, 21 March 1919, Page 4

Y.M.C.A. WELCOME

LUNCHEON TO MB HUGHES. A luncheon was tendered to Mr G. W. W. B. Hughes to-day by the board and member? of the Y.M.C.A. Mr Hughes just returned after two yeara' service in London as supervising seoratary of the New Zealand'section of the Y.M.C.A. war work. There was a very big gathering of prominent citizens, Mr H. It. Wilkinson (president) presiding. The Chairman, in introducing the guest, welcomed also a member of the board, Mr D. Gilmour, who Berved in the ranks and was wounded. Mr Hughes, in acknowledging the welcome, said that any service that had been rendered by the a&sociatibn's men on active service had been wholly dependent upon the loyal way in which the people of the Dominion had provided the sinews of war. With these " sinews of war" readily given, the secretaries whom the association had sent had done splendid service. As one directing their activities, he could say this emphatically. Ho wished to take off his hat particularly to Jim Hay (Lawrence), a man whoso name _he believed would be a household word in New Zealand. He proceeded to relato how, in their devotion to duty, the men of the Y.M.C.A. had gone further forward even than the advanced dressing stations, and set up their canteens for the walking cases trickling back. He was glad to learn that returned men were joining up with the association id New Zealand m encouraging numbers. He believed that in Dunodin something like 600 returned men had become definitely members of the association. The work overseas had made possible a tremendous advance now the war waa over. There waa nothing that was not possible to them. He had noted considerable criticism of the educational scheme that had, been inaugurated overseas. He had been closely identified with it, and scores of men would return, because of that training scheme, better fitted to discharge their duties. The speaker was heartily cheered when he referred to splendid assistance given to the scheme by Generals Richardson and Russell, the former of whom inaugurated It. The Y.M.C.A.'s part in this education scheme for maimed men had commenced with helping the finances. The Y.M.C.A. put in many thousands of pounds to erect buildings, provide equipment, and pay the teachers of arts and crafts, etc. The Government had been extraordinarily tardy in sending help for this magnificent scheme, and if it did not become the success it should beooma it would bo because of tho tardiness of the help given by the Government. In oonolusion, Mr Hughes referred briefly and pointedly to work in Paris to meet propaganda which were vicious in the extremepropaganda, he was sorry to say, that had an inception from a New Zealand woman. He would say no more than that they had tried to meet this propaganda, and at last they had been suocessful. (Anplause.) In calling for a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Hughes, Mr Wilkinson emphasised the truly national character of Y.M.O.A. work, which character the war had fully developed. He appealed to every member and business man to provide the sinews of war for the big advances that were pending. ____________